Is it possible to "prove" the theory of evolution?

Question

I'm a rigid supporter of the Theory of Evolution, but I'm also a Christian, who believes God did in fact create the Earth. (This seems contradictory, but personally I don't believe the concepts are antithetical: Creation says THAT God created Man, and evolution theorizes about HOW Man was created ... but that's not my question, so please don't bother criticizing it)

As a result, I often get in debates with other Christians about evolution, and they often tell me that since evolution is "just a theory," if should be presented as an equal and opposite theory to creation in schools.

I always tell them that "creation" is a completely theological concept not applicable to "science," while "evolution" is a scientific theory ... just like gravity ... and electricity.

But isn't the "just a theory" argument tautological? If evolution of man happened so long ago, we won't be able to "prove" it, even though we seem to be able to find an infinite amount of supporting evidence, right?

Answer 1

Well "theory" is better than a hypothesis, and a "theory" has been proven applicable under what information we have. Other scientific theories include the "theory of GRAVITY", good luck disproving that. There is also the Atomic Theory which led to the atomic bomb. Can you really disbelieve Hiroshima.

There is absolutely nothing in nature that contradicts the theory of evolution. On the other hand, when creationist are faced with data they cannot explain then they say that Satan put it there to test their faith.

But the fundamental difference between these two beliefs is that "Evolution" is not taken on faith. If ever there is a better theory (actually Darwin's has already gone through several re-examinations) then it will change. But people of faith (actually people who lack faith and only have "belief" in the bible, and the unimportant literal "belief" at that) tend to use their own theories just to prove their belief. They first have a conclusion and invent premises to support it. While scientist first gather data and conclude from there what is most possible. And that is why when they receive info, they don't say that anybody put it there to deceive them.

Answer 2

If you believe in "Intelligent design" and I believe in "Evolution" How are they incompatible? According to the bible God created matter from the face of the deep by saying "let there be light" Couldn't that be considered the Big Bang Then she created the heavens and the Earth but didn't create the sun until the third day so the first and second days weren't any way of telling time that we know today they could and I say could have been trillions of years. So my specif theory is compatible with your Intelligent design theory. When God created all the animals the bible doesn't tell us what god used but to creat Man according to the Bible God used the dust of the earth and spit or sand,silica, and water. Silica is the basic building block of the universe and water is made up of those basic building blocks and needed to sustain life as we know it. Also it doesn't tell us how long it took God to create each animal species it does say a day but since we have accepted that the first two days were on indeterminate length this day might be also thought to be of indeterminate length. Now Man was made lord over all being on the Earth but he is also made from all the things on the Earth could not man be decended from all the creaters of the Earth in other words mankind evolved into what he was. So as you can see it is not impossible to have both evolution and intelligent design coexist but you also can be a scientist and still believe in God. Here endeth the lesson.

Answer 3

It's about proving 'beyond any reasonable doubt'. You have to note the phrase 'reasonable doubt'.
Those people trying to claim that evolution as a theory can only stand as an equal opposite to the 'theory' of creationism, miss this point entirely. Doubting creationism is very reasonable.

The view that god is behind evolution is another step in the faith-leap of attempting to make god responsible for every change and scientific advance. Theillard de Chardin tried this tack and ridiculed himself in the process. There is little point in trying seek truth if you always know the ultimate answer and the reasons.

[edit] It's not a waste of time Deejay, some people use the claim of 'theory' to wrongly advance nonsense, doing a lot of harm as a result. Some theories have stronger foundations.

[edit] Read what Eric The Red wrote (below) about the difference between 'theory' and an untested 'hypothesis'.

TDs from the loonies who hate impartial science.

[edit] Another point from what ragdefender wrote. I wouldn't call religious belief ordinary belief, it doesn't warrant that appellation. It is pure faith. Belief can be conviction based upon evidence, but pure faith is something else.

Answer 4

I'm also a Christian who believe in evolution. All theories are impossible to prove, but more and more evidence can be found for them until they are about as reliable as the "the sun will rise tomorrow" theory, which like evolution, is "just" a theory. It is still rationally possible to doubt that it will, but few people believe it won't. If creationism should be presented equally in education, so should theories like the sun going round the Earth.

To me, the most important matter in connection with evolution and Christianity is that a Christian is supposed to be humble before others, God and His creation, and to see the Universe as billions of years old and ourselves as having evolved from primordial slime and being very much the new kids on the block is very humbling, unlike creationism, which basically sees the world as having been created solely for our benefit. Therefore, i would say it's the creationists who are anti-Christian.

Answer 5

Yes I have to agree with you. As a young man I struggled with that as I believed the Bible, but then I've found that in studying the Bible that God wants us to use our "God given intelligence"! So I did. My conclusion?
"Evolution is God's creation". This I came to understand long before the creationist's brought the subject up in the public forum.
Evolution is not a theory anymore. It is a fact. If we Christians are going to use archeology for our debates in the authenticity of our Bible then surley the wisdom God taught us could go hand in hand with our intelligence? So looking at the fossils in the R.O.M. strongly suggests that over sixty five million years ago creatures ran rampant on this beautiful blue jewel of a planet! God's creation.
Right?
The evolution of man only goes to show where Cain got his wife. Adam and Eve were the first. So we both know that if there were no others created then the human race would propagate itself out of existence within ten generations from Adam and Eve. If we know that? Don't you think GOD THE CREATORE would know that? I do.
So ...there had to be other humans created, they were not important to the story as a result they were only hinted at in the statement of Cain taking his wife and leaving.
The Bible is a very succinct collection of books. The lessons taught are more succinct and we have to use both our wisdom and intelligence to study the inspired word of God.
Evolution is part of God's creation, only a bigoted idiot would argue against that. From either camp, the faithful or faithless.
What God has wrought we only know little of. Centuries ago Newton explained one of God's works, we now call it gravity. Just because we didn't have an identification nor explanation to this does not mean it never existed. All we did was come to understand it. The same with Galileo. We are in a solar system, and we circle the sun annually. Bigatry denied that!
Electricity has been shown to us since we first walked the planet. Just because we can't harness the bolts of lightning it doesn't mean we can't produce electritcity. We have for almost two hundred years now? But it has been around the planet for billions of years. God created it, all we have done is discover it then utilize it. But it has been here for a very long time, in God's creation.
Sometimes I despair over our brothers and sisters adamant stands. But God loves us all so we use the wisdom He gave us in His teachings and continue in worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Don't let their debate stop you from thinking, but then don't let yourself over think to the point of losing sight of God.
God bless and take care.

Answer 6

With current scientific knowledge you really can't prove evolution, but you can't dismiss it either. I am a believer in evolution as well and I guess the best way to put it if you are a Christian believe of evolution is that God created evolution, if that makes any sense. As Christian belief teaches, everything in the world was put here by God, but that doesn't mean that christianity and evolution are total opposites. Thats just my opinion I'm not an expert on either subject

Answer 7

AAAhhhh the infinite question that philosophers, scientists, and theologists have been battling for centuries.In my opinion, they both are just theories.One is based on a book.One is based on the fact that we have too many similarities to primates too ignore.Which is more legitimate??I suggest you learn more about theology, the "myths"of the old days that people used as their religion.Stories, tales, fables, and morals have been around since the dawn of man.What puzzles people, is that between monkey and caveman there's not documention(cuz they can't write!)Written words can change.We are are here, dinosaurs were here, nomadic tribes were here.(fossils are proof)"Creation"as a concept is not completely theological.The battle is between what we understand to be science(the big bang), and what we believe/hope(God).People wanted to know that they have a purpose in life therefore, MADE a meaning to life.So in conclusion, prove god exists or prove evolution to find your answer.

Answer 8

Oh! its so simple. You just 've gotta read the story of creation to "prove" the theory of evolution. You always should look at two side of the coin to verify the authenticity, right?

Answer 9

Evolution is a statistical theory and as such has no predictive power in single events. Our has had only one history. Just as human history is fundamentally unpredictable.

No matter how closely we study it, we cannot predict because there are inherent unknowns and the interactions are far too complicated. The theory is more like a generality that accepts exceptions.

Answer 10

No, and it will continue to be hash over and over, till the end of time.

Theory is just what it is. It's a theory.

It's a waste of time to even give it a thought.